Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1940), illustrated by Arthur Szyk and published by Heritage Press, is a dazzling marriage of Persian poetry and modern artistry. This edition presents Edward FitzGerald’s famed 19th-century English translation of Khayyam’s 12th-century quatrains—meditations on love, mortality, and the fleeting beauty of life—accompanied by Szyk’s exquisite illuminated miniatures.
A master of intricate detail, Szyk (known for his political caricatures and Judaic works) frames each poem with gold-leaf borders, Persian motifs, and vibrant vignettes of wine, roses, and starry night skies. His art blends medieval manuscript traditions with Art Deco flair, mirroring the Rubaiyat’s timeless yet sensual spirit. The Heritage Press production enhances Szyk’s visuals with rich typography and heavy paper, creating a volume as much an objet d’art as a literary classic.
This edition stands apart for its visual opulence and Szyk’s unique fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics, offering a fresh lens on Khayyam’s existential revelry.
